Places to get new tyres overseas?

[Itchy]

I'm plotting to go off to Europe when I get some time off probably next year , thing is I'm thinking of doing sports bike touring = BT90s , (if I can actually wangle a decent NC30) and maybe joining up with an old riding group,

thing is these babies last 2500 miles tops = about half way through France, so what companies can be trusted in France/Spain/Germany to get decent tyres?.

or would it be wiser to go get some touring tyres and not change them?. Touring tyres = not as good grip.

This also applies to if you get a big gash in your tyre.

any thoughts?

Ta
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[Modo]

I had to have a new rear tyre on my busa during my last trip to France a Bridgestone, worked fine . You get the best tyre on offer and ride according to what type of tyre you get, that would be my advice.

[Nath]

I bought a set of tyres whilst touring Europe this summer. I decided my best bet was to head for a big city so I went to Marseille. I got directed to the street where all the bikeshops are and walked along it till I spied a likely looking place. The price was right so I went with them. Pneu-Bis, who are apparently a big chain which shops all over France.

Bare in mind that if the tyres aren't a common size then they will have to order them in which will take at least a day - This could be a major ballache on a shorter tour. Also consider that in France, Spain and Italy not many people speak English.


I would say you be best off trying to get tyres that will cope with the mileage. Now I know it's trendy to use the "best" tyres on sports bikes, but since you aren't Valentino Rossi I'm sure you will be able to find something that's a compromise between mileage/grip that will suit.
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[EuropeanNC30R...]

Tbh BT090's would be a waste of time for touring. Sports-touring tyres have easily enough grip to get your knee down and scrape pegs, more so on the smooth hot roads abroad. They are a lot harder to square off too.

These are Dunlop's old GPR80.

Also to expand on Nath's point, 18 inch rear tyres in the NC30's size are uncommon, sticky ones even more so (not many NC30's in Europe). Chances are you'll end up having to put a plastic oversized macadam on unless you want to wait days.

[mark83]

Just in case you drop into italy, there's a good tyre place just as you cross the Mont Blanc on the Italian side.

The town is called Curmayeur. (Think that's how you spell it!)

But you can't miss it. Its basically the downhill straight after the tunnel.
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[Keen]

I got a set of conti road attacks fitted before setting off for france and they were great. 3000 miles later they have loads of tread left and its not because I ride like a granny.

I'd feel confident recommending these tyres, they were good enough to scrub near-enough to the edge on the route napoleon without ever feeling pushed, and thats 2-up with luggage of course as others have said, the good road surfaces and nice hot tarmac help
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[John C]

[extreme3d]

I'm another for Conti Road Attacks. They have a much softer compound than the other sports touring tyres so are much much stickier. They get a decent milage by having a deeper tread to counter the sticky compound.

Wet weather performance is the best of any tyre I've tried yet - and that includes 020's. They are also cheap to buy and being German you will have no problem getting them on the continent

Why do you feel the need to fit a sports tyre? Sports touring tyres are not going to give any less performance on the roads than a sports tyre, even for very fast riding. It's just an 'image' thing to have the latest sports tyre, even if it means only getting 2000 miles

Put it this way, John above (NSR Sparkie) is pushing on doing the Yorkshire TT in 10 mins flat now on his Thunderace . That's REALLY moving some and he only ever uses sports touring tyres. You just don't need to fit a 'sports' tyre to a sports bike to get on the edge performance from a sports bike

[John C]